I don't even know where to begin about this event. So, I guess I'll do a quick 10 year re-cap. In 2007 Michael Taylor sent me an email asking if I and the Legion post would be interested in taking the Wounded Warriors surfing? I thought long and hard about it, it was maybe a millisecond before I answered with a resounding YES! What a great idea. Now what Michael didn't know at that time, and honestly very few did, is when I came home from Vietnam, I was a mess and lost. If it wasn't for surfing, I might not have made the transition from war to being back home.

Surfing saved my life. There's no question in my mind. Surfing saved me.

So of course I jumped all over Michael's query. The hard part was trying to convince a bunch of older veterans that this would be a great idea! At the time, nobody was taking the Wounded Warrior project vets surfing. They were hitting the ski slopes, and white water rafting, among other outside activities. But they hadn't tried surfing yet. We would be the first. And I thought how cool it would be if the NH surf scene pulled the trigger on this out of the entire surf nation. Of course everyone and their brother today has a special Surfing Event for these brave Warriors. But we were the first.

So ten years has passed, and it's still as strong as it was the first time. In fact, it has grown ten fold. The community involvement has been tremendous. The four surf shops Cinnamon Rainbows, Pioneers, Summer Sessions, and Zapstix have provided the soft tops and wetsuits every single year. It's been amazing. Year after year after year. We've been blessed with beautiful weather and perfect learning waves every time.

That's Tony Berardini and Dave Cropper at the very first one we did. And they were both at this last one. And I am not alone when I say, that some people call this the best day of the year. It is a great follow up each summer after the Surfing With Smiles events wind down.




This guy's name was Thomas, he had never even thought about surfing before this day, let alone climb into a wetsuit and actually try it. And if you can see the name of the photographer in this pic, you'll notice that it's the late Ed O'Connell. Ed as most of you know, was a Vietnam veteran. Which brings me to the fact, that the veterans who help out each year, are getting as much, if not more out of this special day. I have more veterans asking me each year if they can help. And some of them qualify as Wounded Warriors. They just want to help. It's not just the vets. It's all of the volunteers. They all get something out of it. Something deep, that stirs their very souls.

Like Max Fatello pictured below at the very first event. He like Tony and Crop has been to every single one each year. I remember this guy below. Mark Mix was paralyzed in Iraq. He was a Navy SeaBee. My dad was a Seabee during WWII. I so wish he had lived long enough to witness this event.



I think he would be proud of his son and grandson.



The American Legion Post 35 has sponsored this event every single year. Everyone in this photo was there this year, except the late George Masten. The Legion pays for the tee shirts, and they cook hamburgers and hotdogs for the vets and their families. About 5 years ago, we opened the event up to include family members. I thought about what the families go through when a loved one gets wounded. They suffer as much if not more than the vets themselves. They worry the moment their loved one gets deployed. I can only imagine what it's like to get the news that their son, husband, father, wife, daughter, brother or sister gets wounded. They must go through hell.

So I opened it up for the families as well. My thinking is to make a beach day.
And that's exactly what it has turned into. A fun day at the beach. No stress. No worries. Just sun and surf. The way I figure is, they have all earned it.

There are four galleries of the HIT THE BEACH X in the Blog this week.
Might I suggest you look at these galleries on an actual computer. You guys miss so much on your smart ass phones. Some of these photos are just incredibly uplifting and beautiful. Please check them out.

So, a total Eclipse happened on Monday, and I believe that I took the very first photo. See below. Though it's not a total eclipse it is a partial one. And I may have stared into the sun a wee bit longer than I should have. But it was worth it getting this amazing shot.



*I never realized the ear like objects on the moon's surface.
Check out John Carden's gallery of the eclipse. He got some great shots!




This is Cleve Bigelow. I've known Cleve since the 60's. We have surfed together all over New England. Last week Cleve was out puttering around on his SUP on Marconi beach on Cape Cod. A few days before a seal was attacked and killed by a white shark no more than 30 feet from the shore line. People were taking cell phone pics and video of the gruesome attack.



I guess you're wondering if Cleve knew about the seal attack? My guess is he did. Which is surprising, because I wouldn't think that Cleve would take such a risk. Cleve was pronounced dead in 2015 after he was found floating face first in the water. He had no pulse, no heartbeat. Clinically dead. But...they brought him back. Brought him right back to Cape Cod where a Great White Shark bit his SUP as he was Supping along the coastline.



As you can all plainly see, that shark bite could have done some serious damage. But once again, Cleve flirted with death and lived to tell about it. I have yet to speak with him, I need to hear his story. Cleve is the first person I know to come that close to a white shark. If this had been a regular surfboard, he would have been lying prone. And if he was lying prone, this bite mark would have been on his torso, or one of his limbs. And I'm afraid Cleve would have ended up being the first surfer killed by a shark in New England. I admit that is quite a legacy. And for some reason, it sounds cool. I don't know. Getting killed by a Great White shark here in New England and being the first? That's instant status upgrade. And the stories that would be told for the next 100 years would be synonymous with his name and a white shark.



What would you do if you had an up close encounter with a white shark? Whatever you do, don't soil yourself. That will only attract more sharks. Try and be calm and slowly move away. Stay cool and hopefully the shark will move on after tasting your board. Besides, they only want seals. Cleve (Thank God) is a very thin man. There's not much meat on his bones. So he would not be mixed up with a plump seal. Now me on the other hand? Well, I'm afraid that I would be a priority on his menu. You know, Italian Food and all of that. Gulp.

Any way, just keep yer eyes and ears open.

(Above) A different angle of that great moment. August 25th, 2017
Photos by Martha Lardent *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The Total Eclipse in Hampton, NH August 21st, 2017
Photos by John Carden

(Above) They said we would not be able to see the total eclipse, but Johnny
got some cool pics nonetheless. August 21st, 2017 Photos by John Carden
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery